CASH JOHNNY: SONGWRITER 2CD

Johnny Cash was dropped from his Columbia Records contract in the late '80s, after which he floated around for a few years before signing to Rick Rubin's American label and officially launching his late-career comeback. Trent Reznor recently spoke about his feelings on Cash's iconic "Hurt" cover, which was borne of that same Cash renaissance period.

But before all of that, sometime in that late '80s to early '90s limbo period, Cash recorded an album of demos that was shelved when he signed with Rubin. Previously lost to time, that demo collection has now been completed by his son John Carter Cash.

Called Songwriter, the album is arriving this summer. It takes Cash's original voice-and-guitar demos (featuring a few harmonies from Waylon Jennings) and fills them out with contributions from two of Cash's former sidemen, guitarist Marty Stuart and the late stand-up bassist Dave Roe. Former Average White Band drummer Dave Abbott also appears, as does the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach for a guitar solo.

Track list

1.   CD   Songwriter Album

1. Hello Out There
2. Spotlight
3. Drive On
4. I Love You Tonite
5. Have You Ever Been To Little Rock?
6. Well Alright
7. She Sang Sweet Baby James
8. Poor Valley Girl
9. Soldier Boy
10. Sing It Pretty Sue
11. Like A Soldier

1. 2.   CD   Bonus Disc of Hits

   1. I Walk The Line (1988 Version)
   2. The Night Hank Williams Came To Town (with Waylon Jennings)
   3. Sixteen Tons
   4. Long Black Veil (1988 Version)
   5. Cry, Cry, Cry (1988 Version)
   6. Guess Things Happen That Way (1988 Version)
   7. Get Rhythm (1988 Version)
   8. Ring Of Fire (1988 Version)
   9. Folsom Prison Blues (1988 Version)
   10. Cat's In The Cradle
   11. Hey Porter
   12. Wanted Man